Automatic gas lighter and extinguisher.



G. ROBSON.

' AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNE 25, 1910.

975,160. Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1910.

975,160. Patented Nov.8, 1910.

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THE-NORRIS Pztsns co., WASHINGTON, n. c,

G. ROBSON.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1910.

Patented Nov.8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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G. ROBSON. AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 19 10.

975,160. Patented N018, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m: NORRIS PETERS cm, wasmuc'ran, 0 c4 nrr s GEORGE ROBSON, OF

LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC GAS LIGHTER AND EXTINGUISHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RoBsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Albion House, New Oxford street, London, W, England, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Gas Lighter and Extinguisher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus controllable from a single point or station, for automatically operating gas burners and particularly to apparatus of the type wherein two weights are adapted to act upon an expansible casing in such a manner that upon a certain intentional abnormal increase in pressure occurring in the main, the easing expands to release one or more wheels of a train of clockwork and then on a subsequent decrease of pressure in the main the casing contracts to release a governing wheel to allow the clockwork to actuate the gas valve. In this apparatus also the expansible casing is adapted to be relieved of the effect of one weight under certain conditions to enable the variation in pressure required to control the operation of the clockwork for extinguishing the light to occur within a lower range of pressures than that required for the lighting operation.

The present invention has particular reference to the arrangement of the two weights and the operation of the same by the diaphragm or other expanding chamber and the mechanism for locking and releasing the clockwork, one object being to simplify the construction and arrangement of the weights and locking and releasing mechanism.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and actuated by a rise and a subsequent decrease of pres sure in the mains. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on the lines AA and B-B respectively of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2 is an outside end elevation of the back frame with the outer casing removed. Fig. 4; is a detail of a modification hereinafter referred to. Figs. 5 and 6 are a side elevation and plan view respectively of a form of cam for a purpose hereinafter described. Figs. 7 and 8 are a side elevation partly in section and a plan view of a modified form of apparatus. Fig. 9 is a detached view of a portion of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

Application filed June 25, 1910. Serial No. 568,868.

mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 9 is a modified detail. Figs. 10 to 15 show side and front views respectively of modified forms of cam that may be used.

In carrying the invention into effect with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a is a removable casing inclosing the operating mechanism which is preferably driven by a spring Within the barrel, 6. A spur wheel 0 upon the barrel engages with and drives a pinion d upon the shaft 6 on the end of which shaft is mounted a disk fitted with two single stepped cams f. The shaft 6 is also fitted with a spur wheel 9 which engages with and drives a pinion hi on the shaft is, this shaft carrying a worm wheel Z the teeth of which are in mesh with the threads of a worm in a shaft m. This shaft is approximately vertical, its lower end rests in a footstep'n, while its upper end is fitted with the usual escapement and a pin 0 adapted to engage at the proper time with a stop 7) carried upon a horizontal lever g fulcrumed on the frame at 1".

The operating mechanism thus far described is preferably carried upon a flanged plate 8 in any suitable way, the casing a fitting upon the flange of this plate. The gas supply pipe 25 is fixed to, or formed integrally with the plate 8 and the gas under the control of the gas cook 26 passes away to the burners by the pipe 1).

The gas before it reaches the cock u, is caused to act upon a diaphragm or movable part w of an expansible chamber y by pass ing through an opening 00, which is in communication with the interior of the expansible chamber. The diaphragm w is adapted under the pressure of gas to move outward to actuate a system of weighted bell crank levers 1, 2 and 3 fulcrumed upon the pin w and to move inward to follow up a reduction of pressure by means of the said weighted levers. The levers 1, 2 which may be partly in the form of plates are fitted with adjustable weights 4, 5 and the lever 1 has one arm or member constantly in engagement with the diaphragm while the other lever 2 has a short arm adapted to engage by overlapping at 6, with a similar arm upon the first lever so that although the lever 2 is free normally to press upon the arm of lever 1 and therefore upon the diaphragm, it is adapted to be moved away therefrom to lessen the weights on the diaphragm by means of the cam 7 which engages with the third arm or lever 8, integral with or connected to the lever 2.

The disk carrying the cams f is mounted upon the spindle e of the clockwork mechanism which is used to actuate the gas cock, it, provided with the usual port, and the cam is preferably provided with a pin 7 adapted to directly engage a pin 8 on the end of the gas cock. The arm of the weighted lever 1 which is constantly in engagement with the expansible chamber is provided with a pin 9 and is also provided with a rod 10 for raising the locking lever g, which releases the clockwork mechanism, which lever as before described carries a stop 79 adapted to be moved into or out of the path of the pin 0 mounted upon the upper end of the worm shaft m controlling the clockwork mechanism, the lower end of this shaft having a projection 11 adapted to be engaged by the pin 9 on the arm of the weighted lever 1 before referred to.

The locking lever g is preferably arranged horizontally, with its free end resting upon the rod 10 the upper portion of which comv prises a screwed head which may be adjusted to render the apparatus more or less sensitive; the head is also preferably slightly recessed to receive a ball or the like 12 upon the end of the locking lever. The latter also has a tooth 13 adapted to drop into a notch in the edge of a disk 14 on the rotating shaft is of the clockwork mechanism, the relation of this notch to the stop 79 upon the locking lever above referred to being such, that when the tooth 13 is in the notch the stop 79 is in the path of the corresponding pin 0 upon the worm shaft m and will therefore arrest the latter in its rotation and lock the clockwork mechanism, but when the tooth 18 is upon the edge or periphery of the disk 14 the stop 79 will be moved out of the path of the pin 0.

In applying the invention to mechanism which is to operate a gas cock upon an abnormal increase and then a decrease in pressure the parts are so arranged as to permit of the following operations: Assuming that the gas burners in communication with the gas outlet pipe 12 are all extinguished and the normal pressure during the daytime prevails in themains, toward evening when it is necessary to light the burners the pressure is temporarily raised in the mains to an abnormal degree. This causes the diaphragm w of the expansible chamber y to expand against the combined effect of the two weighted levers 1, 2. The movement of the one weighted lever 1 raises the locking lever g by the rod 10 and so releases the worm shaftm governing the clockwork mechanism, but the latter is prevented from completely operating by the lower locking pin 9 engaging the projection 11 upon the lower end of the worm shaft, the clockwork being merely set ready for operation. It is to be noticed in passing that before the pin 9 engages the projection 11, the tooth 13 is disengaged from its notch in the disk 14 and that the clockwork is free and turns the disk so that the notch is moved from under the pin but is then stopped by the engagement of the projection 11 with the pin 9. The pressure in the mains is then reduced sufficiently to allow the combined weights to depress the expansible chamber or diaphragm whereupon the lower locking pin 9 is withdrawn from engagement with the projection 11 upon the worm shaft and the disk 14 being disengaged therefrom so that it ceases to act upon the expansible chamber. The latter, under the slightly reduced pressure, is now able to expand again and so thrusts the lower lockin pin 9 again into engagement with the pro ection 11 upon the worm shaft thereby arresting the clockwork mechanism. At midnight when the pressure in the mains is usually reduced considerably, the expansible chamber once more contracts and the lower locking pin is withdrawn which there upon releases the clockworkmechanism and allows it to complete its operation so that the tooth 13 upon the locking lever Q can fall into the notch in the disk 1 1 above referred to and can bring its stop p into the path of the pin 0 upon the worm shaft m thus locking the clockwork mechanism at this point. This last described operation of the clockwork mechanism is but ofv slight duration and does not affect the gas cook, the burner remaining alight. When the burners are to be extinguished the pressure in the main is again raised but only suffi: cient to lift the lever 1 whereupon the diaphragm w of the expansible chamber eX- pands, again raises the locking lever but thrusts the lower locking pin into engage-V ment, the clockwork mechanism being once more set ready for operation. The pressure in the mains is then reduced and the consequent contraction of the expansible chamber withdraws the lower locking pin, and the clockwork mechanism beingreleased oper ates to turn off the gas cook, its operation being arrested by the stop 79 on the locking lever g falling into the path of the pin 0 upon the worm shaft m, the extinguishing occurring when a lower pressure exlsts 1n the mam than was the case when lighting up was effected. Two cams f are preferably provided because the disk upon which they.

are mountedmakes a half revolution'for a complete cycle of operations. For convenience in properly adjusting the mechanism when fixing the various apparatus in position a push button 15 mounted on a spring arm 16 is provided so that the lever 1 may be actuated.

lVhile the above method of operating or controlling the clockwork mechanism by both a rise and fall of pressure is preferable in most towns or districts, yet in some, for instance, where the plant is only of sufficient capacity to meet the usual maximum consumption or thereabout, it is difficult or undesirable to raise the pressure in the mains much above the usual maximum pressure after the district has been lighted and consequently to avoid this difficulty with apparatus as above described it would be necessary to raise the pressure early in the evening, but this might lead to premature lighting of the lamps and therefore waste of gas. To meet a difficulty of this nature the single step cam f which relieves the diaphragm w of one of the weights may be replaced by a cam having two steps or rises 17 and 18 of different height, see Figs. 5 and G, and the bottom locking pin 9 which engages the projection 11 on the lower end of the worm shaft is made of such length that it will engage the projection when the lever arm 2 controlling the loose weight 5 is on the higher step or rise 17 of the cam but will not engage when it is on the lower step 18, that is in one case the diaphragm w expands its full amount against the action of one weight but in the other case it only expands partly against the action of one weight 4 and then in its tendency to expand further picks up as it were the second weight 5 and is thereby prevented from moving the lower locking pin far enough to engage with the projection on the worm shaft. This arrangement enables the clockwork mechanism to be released to operate the gas cock upon an increase in pressure only instead of necessitating an increase and a decrease as hereinbefore described. The operation under these altered conditions is as follows Assuming the burners to be extinguished and the pressure in the mains to be normal for daytime requirements, both weights 4; and 5 are acting upon the diaphragm of the apparatus, the clockwork is locked by the upper lock 7) 0 and the lower locking pin 9 is out of engagement with the projection 11 on the worm shaft. When the burners are to be lighted the pressure in the mains is raised to the maximum. The diaphragm on each apparatus expands against the action of both weights and raising the upper looking lever 11 releases the clockwork mechanism. The latter at once operates sufficiently, to turn on the gas cook, a, as the lower locking pin 9 is not moved far enough to engage the projection 11 on the worm shaft. When the cock has been turned on,

the cam has moved far enough for the higher step 17 to relieve the weight 5 whereupon the diaphragm under the high pressure and against the weight 4 only, is able to move the lower locking pin 9 into engagement with the projection 11 on the worm shaft to stop the clockwork. lVhen the usual reduction of pressure occurs at midnight the diaphragm is again contracted under the action of the weight 4 and the lower locking pin is withdrawn to allow the clockwork to operate again slightly to complete its operation until the upper locking lever 9 drops its locking pin to lock the mechanism.

In order to extinguish the burners in the morning the pressure in the mains is raised sufliciently to overcome the action of the weight 4 and the upper locking pin is again raised to release the clockwork which at once operates and turns the gas cook to the oil position/ At the end of this operation the cam releases the loose weight entirely, the arm of the loose weighted lever dropping off the second step of the cam. The clockwork is thus locked by the upper locking pin and a pressure sufiicient to expand the diaphragm against the combined effect of both weights will be necessary for the next operat1on.

In order to avoid an excessively high pressure inadvertently set up in the mains expanding the diaphragm sufficiently to pick up the second weight and locking the lower pin and so preventing the operation of the clockwork when it should operate as for instance when the pressure is raised to extinguish the lights, a safety spring 18 or the like Fig. 2 may be arranged to retard the actuation of the loose weighted lever 2 beyond a predetermined point.

It is to be understood that several cams may be arranged on one cam disk, if desired, according to the spindle upon which the disk is mounted and that instead of the cam being formed with either one step or two'as above described, it may be made adjustable, so that by slight adjustment it may be used under either of the conditions hereinbefore referred to, and the lower locking pin or the projection it engages with may be similarly adapted. It will be also understood that the weights or the leverage at which they can act can be varied or be made adjustable to suit the Various pressures at which the apparatus is to act and also to suit the variations in pressures due to local conditions.

In the two forms of apparatus which have now been described, if the reduction of pressure is eifected very slowly as is sometimes the case in certain towns or districts, it may happen that instead of the tooth 13 dropping into its recess in the disk 14 and thus stopping the mechanism by the engagement of the pin 0 with the stop p, it will miss and continue rotating and the light will be extinguished, or it may be that just as the tooth 13 is about to fall into its notch an accidental puff of gas will raise the rod 10 and prevent the engagement and locking of the parts with the above described result. To overcome this, a third form of apparatus has been designed which is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The greater part of the mechanism is similar to that already described and is lettered the same.- The weights 4 and 5 are adjustably carried upon horlzontal screwed rods 19 mounted upon the bell crank levers 1 and 2 hereinbefore described. In this modification instead of the lever 1 carrying a vertical operating rod 10 it carries a pawl 20 formed on one arm 21 of a bell crank lever 22 fulcrumed at 23 in lugs 24 mounted on the lever 1. The pawl 20, when the diaphragm is expanded, rises into engagement with a pin 25 projecting from the locking lever 9 thereby raising the lever together with its tooth 13 and stop p from the disk 14 and out of the path of pin 0 respectively thus releasing the clockwork.

To prevent the pawl 20 taking up a position under the pin 25 when it is about to fall and stop the clockwork, a lever 26 fulcrumed upon the frame at 27 is so arranged that its free end is interposed between the pawl and pin at the right moment, the pawl being thrust backward out of the way. This is accomplished by means of a pin 28 projecting from the disk 14 just in advance ofthe notch therein (see Fig. 9) the pin engaging with a shoulder 29 projecting from one side of and lifting the free end of the lever 26 from its rest position upon the support 32 in such a way that a splayed portion 30 thereon pushes back the pawl 20 just as the tooth is about to fall. In this way the tooth 13 on the lever q is free to drop into its notch in the disk 14. After the pawl has been thrust back it may move inward again at the proper time by the weight of its arm 22, the distance being limited by the pin 31 coming into contact with the arm of the lever 1.

The cycle of operations in the last described modification is as follows :Assuming that the gas burners are all extinguished and the normal daytime pressure prevails in the mains, the pressure is first raised in degree when it is desired to light the lamps. The diaphragm expands against the action of the two'weighted levers 1, 2, and raises the pawl 20 to a position a little higher than that indicated in dotted lines to lift the looking lever q and release the clockwork which is however stopped again immediately after by the action of pin'9 as hereinbefore described, thussetting the mechanism. Upon a decrease of pressure taking place the pint) is withdrawn out of engagement with the projection 11 and the clockwork is released,

the shaft 6 of which carries a cam and operates'the gas cook so that it may pass gas to the burners as hereinbefore described. During this movement the action of one weight upon the diaphragm is removed by means of the cam f, and allows the diaphragm to expand by the reduced pressure which causes the pin 9 to engage the projection 11 and stop the clockwork.

In order to permit the tooth 13 to drop at the proper time into the notch in disk 14 to allow the pin 0 to engage the stop and thereby stop the mechanism, the pawl 20 is removed laterally from the path of the pin 25 by the action of lever 26 which is raised just as the notch on the disk 14 is coming around into position so that the pawl 20 is thrust backward and there will be nothing to prevent the tooth 13 dropping into its notch. When the pawl moves inwardly again it will come torest not beneath the pin 25 but against the end of it. When midnight arrives, the pressure in the mains is reduced as usual, which has the efi'ect of releasing the clockwork and allows it to complete its operation the burner however not being affected. The action of the weight 4 upon the diaphragm causes it to contract and lowers the pawl 20 till it assumes the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, or even that in full lines. When it is necessary to extinguish the lights, the pressure in the gas main is again raised to overcome the pressure of the one weight and raise the pawl 20 to release the clockwork which is then set as before described by the action of the pin 9, a subsequent decrease of pressure in the mains being necessary to actuate the gas cook to extinguish the lights, both weights finally returning to duty.

Referring now to Fig. 9' the bell crank lever 22 is shown detached in this figure, and fitted with a modified form of pawl. Inasmuch as the pawl moves along a curved path it is preferable to form it with a wedge surface 20'* terminating in a small horizontal foot. Moreover it is preferable toround ofi the corners of the pin 25 as shown. For the purpose of finely adjusting the position of the pawl, the pin 31 is as shown replaced by a screw 31 having the eccentric-shaped head shown, the eccentrichead working in conjunction with the lever 1 to adjust the pawl.

When the apparatus hereinbefore described is applied to use in connection with a cluster of burners comprising for instance, four burners, three of which are turned off at midnight, it is necessary to impart to the gas valve spindle two successive quarter turns and a half turn to complete the cycle of operations. j

The mechanism by which the above described sequence of movements is imparted to the gas plug is indicated in Fig. 4 which shows a portion of the mechanism in Figs.

1, 2 and 3 detached in coiiperative relation with an additional device comprising a recessed disk 46 mounted on the gas plug spindle e and notched at 47 and 48 to engage a tooth 49 carried by the locking lever The gearing between the two spindles e is such that the disk 14 makes eight revolutions to one revolution of the disk 46.

The cycle of operations of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 when combined with the device in. Fig. 4 will be as follows :-Upon an abnormal increase of pressure in the evening when lighting up is to be effected, the diaphragm expands and sets the clockwork ready for operation by raising the locking lever q and immediately afterward locking the clockwork by means of the lower locking pin 9 and projection 11. Upon the following decrease in pressure, the diaphragm contracts and releases the clockwork so that the disk 14 makes two revolutions and the disk 46 on spindle e which operates the gas plug a quarter of a revolution, the clockwork now being stopped by the engagement of the lower locking pin 9 with the projection 11 consequent upon the expansion of the diaphragm due to the cam f relieving the mechanism of one weight. During this movement therefore the main burners of the cluster have been lighted and the pilot lights have been ex tinguished. WVhen midnight is reached and the usual reduction in pressure occurs, the diaphragm contracts and withdraws the pin 9 thereby releasing the clockwork mechanism. The disk 14 then makes two revolutions and the disk 46 a quarter revolution at the conclusion of which the tooth 49 drops into the notch 48 and the tooth 13 similarly drops and engages its notch in the disk 14 and allowing the pin 0 to engage with the stop 9 and stop the mechanism. One of the burners of the cluster now remains alight while the pilot lights of the burners which have been extinguished are also alight. When morning is reached the pressure is again raised and sets the clockwork and upon the subsequent decrease the clockwork is released, and the disk 14 is now forced to make four revolutions because the disk 46 has to make a half revolution before the locking lever can drop and stop the mechanism. It is to be noticed that it is possible for the disk 14 to make two successive revolutions owing to the fact that the disk 14 does not act to lock the mechanism although the tooth 13 may engage with the notch at the end of a revolution. When one revolution is completed the locking mechanism 29 0 is not adapted to lock being at that moment out of synchronism. By the time two revolutions are accomplished they will be ready to look just as the tooth 13 is ready to fall.

In the modifications above described, it

will have been seen that at the end of the v cycle of operations the pawl 20 remains in such a position that if from any cause the pressure in the mains is unduly increased, the mechanism will be set when not desired by the expansion of the diaphragm and the action of pin 9, although a certain amount of fluctuation is permissible owing to the pawl 20 being brought down as in Fig. 7

lower than it really need, and that this premature setting will be very undesirable as disorganizing the cycle. For instance, it is often found in practice owing to the use of gas cooking stoves, that the pressure in the gas mains is considerably increased during the day for cooking purposes, and a modified form of cam will be now described, so designed that at the conclusion of a cycle of operations the pawl 20 will not be left in engagement, but will be free to rise with the increase of pressure due to cooking operations without actuating the gas lighter.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, it will be seen that the cam is made with two low teeth or steps 33 and two high steps 34. The arrangement is such that at the conclusion of a cycle of operations the end of the weighted lever arm 3 is pressed laterally away from the cam by one of the low steps 33 having the effect of preventing the loose weight from acting upon the diaphragm so that it cannot contract to its full extent and prevents the pawl 20 from sinking down to en gaging position, the pawl coming to rest against the end of pin 25. It will thus be understood that should an undue increase of pressure occur in the main after extinguishing and before the next lighting up time, the pawl 20 will be free to rise without actuating the clockwork. When it is time for lighting up, the pressure in the mains is reduced low enough to cause the pawl 20 to sink down to engaging position. The reason for using a higher and a lower step is that in the former case, the loose weight is lifted so far that the overlapping portion 6 of one weighted lever will be moved beyond the extreme limit of expansion of the diaphragm whereby the pin 9 will be actuated in the manner already described; while in the latter case the loose weight is lifted for such a distance that the overlapping portion will be still within the range of expansion of the diaphragm, so that any tendency for the diaphragm to expand results in its picking up as it were, the second weight but is unable to lift it owing to the relatively low pressure behind the diaphragm.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, it will be seen that the cam disk is left plain so that both weights act constantly upon the diaphragm. This may be used in districts where a constant pressure is available for both lighting and extinguishing.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, a form of cam is shown which is provided with a plain projecting ridge 36 which is of such a height that the loose weight will be constantly prevented from acting on the diaphragm, and will act in the manner explained in connection with the cam in Figs. 10 and 11, that is to say, when setting the apparatus for lighting, the pressure is suflicient to completely expand the diaphragm which.

will thus pick up both weights one after the other. At extinguishing however, the midnight reduction in pressure say to tenths will have caused the actuating pawl to engage so that a rise of pressure as before will again set the mechanism ready for the extinguishing movement, and finally at the end of the cycle the pawl will be out of engagement with the releasing mechanism. In the foregoing description four forms of cam disk have been described, viz., that having no steps, two steps, four steps, and a continuous ridge so that by using one of them certain local conditions may be complied with. For instance, when using the cam shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the apparatus will be set at the higher pressure and will operate at the lower pressure, 2'. 6., be set at 35 tenths pressure and will operate at tenths. By the cam in Fig. 7, the apparatus will be set at tenths; it lights at 30 tenths, comes down at midnight to say 20 tenths, the apparatus is again set at 25, is extinguished at 20 tenths, and the pawl 20 is left engaged at that pressure. By the cam in Figs. 10 and 11,,the same operations occur as those last mentioned with the difference that the pawl 20 is not left in engagement. By the cam in Figs. 14 and 15, the cycle of operations will be the same as that described in connection with the cam in Figs. 12 and 13, the pawl being out of en gagement at the end of thecycle.

From the above it will be clear that the difference between the setting pressure and the operating pressure in each case is 5 tenths, pressure and thismay be called the range. In some cases it is desirable that this range should be increased. To this end, a weight 35 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9 is mounted upon the arm Q, so that the diaphragm must be expanded against this weight, but the latter will not act to contract the diaphragm since the arm q and its weight will be supported by the disk 14. For instance, in a case in which the diaphragm is collapsed by the weight of the parts and the two weights say a total of 35 tenths, the mechanism will be set at 10 tenths and operate at 35 tenths. By taking however a weight of 5 tenths off the diaphragm and placing it on the arm 9, the operating pressure will be 5 tenths lower, viz: 3O tenths inasmuch as the total weight on the diaphragm is only 30 tenths and the range is thereby increased to 10 tenths. j Instead of using the weight 35 to increase the range, the same effect will be gained by using a cam as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. In this modification, there is only one weight on the diaphragm to effect its collapse. Therefore by manipulating the two weights 4 and 5 so as to preserve a constant total which represents the setting pressure, the operating pressure may be of any desired value below the setting pressure.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher, the combination of a motor, looking means, a gas controlling valve, a diaphragm, a double armed lever, one end resting on the diaphragm, a projecting pin on the said end, and means including a device located on the other end of the lever for releasing the locking means, and means with .which the pin. cooperates to immediately stop the motor after it is released.

2."In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher the combination of a motor, locking means, a gas controlling valve a diaphragm under gas pressure, a double armed lever, one end of which rests on the diaphragm, a

projecting pin on the said end and means including a device located on the other end of the lever for releasing the locking means, the said pin being in inoperative position previous to the operation of the diaphragm.

'3. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher, the combination of a motor, locking means, a gas controlling valve, a diaphragm under gas pressure, a double armed lever, one'end of which rests on the diaphragm, a projecting pin on the said end, means including a device located on the other end of the lever for releasing the locking means, and means whereby the said pin will be in engagement with the motor releasing mechanism after the motor releasing mechanism is operated. v

4. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination, a clockwork locking means therefor a gas controlling valve, an expansible diaphragm under gas pressure, a double armed weighted main lever, a pin on that end thereof which rests onthe diaphragm, means on the other end of the lever for releasing the locking means, an auxiliary weighted lever having a portion overlapping and normally pressing upon a part of the main lever and a cam for freeing the main lever from the auxiliary weight. g

5. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination, a clockon thediaphragm, means on the other end v of the lever for releasing the locking means,

an auxiliary weighted lever having a portion overlapping and normally pressing upon a part of the main lever, and. a cam on the clockwork actuated gas valve spindle for freeing the main lever from the auxiliary weight.

6.-An automatic gas'lighter and extinguisher comprising in combination, a clockwork locking means therefor, a gas controlling valve having a spindle, an expansible diaphragm under gas pressure, a double armed weighted main lever, a pin on that end thereof which rests on the diaphragm the second arm of the lever, cooperating with the locking means to release the clockwork, a cam bearing disk on the gas valve spindle, an auxiliary weighted lever arm in contact with the cam disk and having a portion overlapping a part of the main lever, the arrangement being such that when a cam on the disk comes into contact with the lever bearing thereon, the auxiliary weighted lever is freed from the main lever.

7. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas controlling valve, an expansible diaphragm, and main and auxiliary weighted levers, the combination of a toothed looking lever cooperating with the clockwork, a pawl on the main weighted lever for actuating the locking lever, a notched disk, such that when the locking lever is raised from the notch on the disk, the former will ride on the rotating periphery of the latter.

8. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher, the combination of a clockwork, a controlling valve actuated by the clockwork, an expansible diaphragm, main and auxiliary weighted levers, a toothed locking lever, a pawl on the main weighted lever for actuating the locking lever, and rotating means operable by the clockwork and cooperating with the toothed locking lever to insure that once the clockwork mechanism is released, the said clockwork mechanism will complete a cycle of operation and rotate the gas valve.

9. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork locking means, a gas controlling valve, and an expansible diaphragm the combination of a main controlling double armed lever, one end of which rests on the diaphragm a pin on such end, an auxiliary lever overlapping a part of the main lever, an adjustable weight on each lever, and an adjustable releasing device carried on the main lever to operate the locking means.

10. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher, the combination of a clockwork, locking means, a gas controlling valve actuated by the clockwork, an expansible diaphragm, a main controlling double armed lever, one arm of which rests on the diaphragm, a pin on said end, a clockwork releasing pawl to operate the locking means, on the other arm of the main lever, an auxiliary lever overlapping a part of the main lever, an adjustable weight on each lever, a cam disk on the clockwork in contact with the auxiliary lever, a cam on the disk, whereby after lighting has been effected the auxiliary weight is freed from the main lever and extinguishing may be effected at a pres sure lower than that for lighting, and means for adjusting the releasing pawl to render the apparatus more or less sensitive.

11. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising the combination of a clockwork actuated gas controlling valve and an expansible diaphragm a main con trolling double armed weighted lever, an auxiliary weighted lever, a cam disk, in contact with the auxiliary lever for relieving the main lever of the weightof the auxiliary lever, so that extinguishing will be effected at a pressure lower than that for lighting and means whereby the range between the setting and operating pressures in each case may be varied.

12. An automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising the combination of a clockwork, a locking lever, a controlling valve, an expansible diaphragm, a main double armed weighted lever for controlling the clockwork, an auxiliary weighted lever, a cam disk in contact with the auxiliary lever for relieving the main lever of the weight of the auxiliary lever, and means whereby extinguishing may be effected by a reduced gas pressure and the locking lever be out of engagement with the clockwork, or by complete removal of gas pressure and the locking lever be in engagement with the clockwork.

13. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas controlling valve, an expansible diaphragm, and main and auxiliary weighted levers, the combination of a toothed locking lever cooperating with the clockwork, a pawl on the main weighted lever for actuating the releasing lever, a notched disk cooperating with the clockwork, such that when the locking lever is raised out of engagement with the notch on the disk the former will ride on the rotating periphery of the latter, and means whereby the pawl will be positively prevented from blocking the movement of the locking lever as its tooth falls into the notch on the disk at the conclusion of the stroke.

14. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas controlling valve, an expansible diaphragm, and main and auxiliary weighted levers, the combination of a toothed releasing lever on the clockwork, a pawl on the main weighted lever for actuating the releasing lever, a notched disk on the clock work, a pin thereon, and an arm alongside the releasing lever and adapted to be raised by the pin into position between the end of the main lever and the clockwork releasing lever when and for the purpose described.

15. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas control valve and an expansible diaphragm, the combination of a main weighted lever resting on the diaphragm, a pin thereon, a clockwork actuated shaft, a projection on the lower end thereof adapted to engage with the pin on the main lever, a pin on the upper end thereof, a clockwork releasing lever adapted to be actuated by the main weighted lever, and a projection on the releasing lever in the path of the pin on the upper end of the shaft, and which is removed from its path upon an expansion of the diaphragm.

16. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas control valve and an expansible diaphragm, the combination of a main weighted lever resting on the diaphragm, a bent extension to said lever, and a bell crank pawl lever mounted on the end of the ex tension for releasing the clockwork.

17. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas control valve and an expansible diaphragm, the combination of a main weighted lever with one end resting on the diaphragm, a pin on said end, an auxiliary weighted lever with a part adapted to overlap and press upon a part of the main lever, a cam for freeing the main lever of the auxiliary weight, a bent extension on the main lever, a bell crank pawl lever mounted on the end of the extension for releasing the clockwork motor locking means, and means for throwing the pawl away from the locking means.

18. In an automatic gas lighter and extinguisher comprising a clockwork actuated gas control valve and an expansible diaphragm, the combination of a main weighted lever with one end resting on the diaphragm, a

pin on said end, an auxiliary weighted le- I guisher comprising in combination, a clock it Work actuated gas control valve, an expansible diaphragm, a double-armed main controlling weighted lever, having one arm resting upon the diaphragm, an auxiliary weighted lever overlapping and pressing upon a part of the main lever, a pin projecting from the part of the main lever in contact with the diaphragm, a pawl carriedon the main lever, a clockwork releasing lever adapted to be actuated by the pawl, a disk on the gas valve spindle, a cam thereon for freeing the main lever of the weight of the auxiliary lever, a clockwork actuated vertical shaft, a projection at its lower and a pin at its upper end, a projection on the releasing lever in the path of the latter pin, and means for laterally moving the pawl out of the way of the releasing lever as it falls into locking position at the end of a stroke, means for throwing the pawl out of engagement with the releasing lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ROBSON. 

